10 Wrestling Facts We Didn't Know Last Week (May 12)

4. Steve Keirn's Skinner Character Was Based On Real-Life

Skinner WWE
WWE.com

Kids terrified of the dangerous-looking Skinner character from 1991-1993 will rejoice in the fact that he was chewing liquorice instead of tobacco on television. That was the only thing 'fake' about the gimmick, though, because Steve Keirn was a bonafide alligator hunter away from the ring.

The Two Man Power Trip Of Wrestling podcast managed to tap into Keirn's time as Skinner, and the ex-wrestler fondly recalled meeting Vince McMahon for the first time. Eager to make an impression, the fledgling WWF signee brought a gator skull, paw and hide to the meeting with him.

In 1991 alone, Keirn had killed and skinned no less than 15 alligators. That's right: 'Skinner' was literal, and not just a hokey cartoon character Vince McMahon came up with. In fact, McMahon had nothing to do with it other than linking Skinner to the movie Deliverance and asking him to be like the "guys in the woods".

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Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.